New Barcelona target always harboured the desire to join the club: ‘I see myself playing there’ | OneFootball

Karim Adeyemi has overnight become one of Barcelona’s biggest attacking targets, with the German winger firmly back on the club’s radar this summer.

Adeyemi’s top priority is to join Barcelona should he leave Borussia Dortmund this summer. And as it turns out, that desire is anything but new.

Adeyemi always wanted to play for Barcelona

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the German winger has never hidden his fondness for Barcelona.

Every time his name has been linked with the Catalan club, he has made statements or gestures that only fuel his desire to one day wear the Blaugrana shirt.

Adeyemi is a key player for Dortmund. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The first public display of that admiration came back in December 2019, when Adeyemi was still playing for FC Liefering, Red Bull Salzburg’s reserve team.

In a past interview with Transfermarkt, the young forward spoke openly about his aspirations.

“It has always been my dream to play with the best player in the world, Lionel Messi, at Barcelona. I definitely want to play for a big club in one of the best leagues. If that happens, I couldn’t complain,” he said at the time.

Two years later, Adeyemi again fuelled the speculation. Asked about Barcelona’s interest during the 2021 Golden Boy awards ceremony, the German made his feelings clear.

“Barça is a great club, it’s an honor that they want me,” he said. “Of course I can see myself playing there if the opportunity arose.”

On the same day, Adeyemi also revealed that Barcelona’s interest in him stretched back some time.

Barcelona are Adeyemi’s dream club. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images)

“I know that Kluivert contacted my agent at the time,” he said, while describing the Catalan club as “one of the great benchmarks of European football and a very attractive destination for any player.”

In May 2023, when he was once again linked with a move, Adeyemi notably liked a social media post that positioned him as the ideal replacement for Ansu Fati at Barcelona.

Closer than ever

Now, his name is once again being strongly linked with a move to bolster Barcelona’s attack, meaning he could be closer than ever to joining the club of his dreams.

Ever since he began making a name for himself in European football, Adeyemi has consistently made clear that pulling on the Barcelona jersey was a prospect that excited him.

This is a good omen for Barcelona, who require a long-term asset in the attacking department, especially amid uncertainties brewing over Raphinha’s future at the club.